Sacramento County Sheriff's Office investigators are examining a gun violence incident that occurred on the evening of April 18 at Howe Park in Sacramento just as deputies were breaking up a large unauthorized gathering of an estimated several hundred individuals.
Background
Sacramento County law enforcement initially responded to the Arden-Arcade park at approximately 6:30 in the evening after obtaining information of people potentially armed with concealed firearms. After that, a second call came in regarding an alleged brawl unfolding at the location.
An overhead unit flew over the park but came back with no confirmation of a fight. Regardless, it was evident that an enormous crowd had gathered without authorization without permission.
How the Shooting Unfolded
Deputies set about removing people from the park by surrounding the park and broadcasting over loudspeakers ordering the assembled crowd to leave immediately. Approximately 15 minutes were allotted for attendees to disperse.
It was during this dispersal that 20 to 25 gunshots rang out. The rapid succession of shots triggered a stampede. Deputies swiftly started looking for those injured.
The Shooting Victims
In total, four gunshot victims were discovered with shooting injuries. All four — comprising three men and one woman each reported to be in their 20s at the time of the incident — were taken to local Sacramento hospitals. Medical teams stated that two were treated for serious injuries, one person had injuries of a moderate nature, and one had injuries classified as minor. Fortunately, all four were in stable condition.
Sacramento fire crews were called to the scene and aided in treating those who had been shot at the scene.
Crime Scene Evidence
The primary shooting scene appears to click here have unfolded on the Cottage Way corridor alongside the local Home Depot located at the 2200 block of Howe Avenue. Investigators located extra shell casings on the Cottage Way roadway. Ballistic damage were identified in the iron fence adjacent to the nearby Home Depot. This evidence indicated that at least one of the shooters had been shooting in a southerly direction from Cottage Way toward the Home Depot. The Home Depot was temporarily locked down while the scene was active. Crime scene technicians and detectives remained on scene well into the night.
Suspect Vehicle Located
Information obtained via scanner audio confirmed that a suspect Kia was contacted by law enforcement in Solano County California. Four individuals were stopped and detained. Sheriff's units were sent to retrieve the detainees to transport the detainees for formal questioning. Video evidence showed that two separate shooters participated in the incident.